Horizontal-drilling machine.



H. R. HUGHES.

HORIZONTAL DRILLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-2T. I915.

Patented May 8, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 'l H. RI HUGHES.

HORIZONTAL DRILLING MACHINE. 'APPLIC'ATION HLED'DEC- 27; I915.1,224,930, Patented May 8,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

arwr o HOWARD R. HUGHES, 0F HOUSTON. TEXAS.

HORIZONTAL-DRILLING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May a, 1917.

Application filed December 27, 1915. Serial No. 68,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD R. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Houston, Texas, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Horizontal- Drilling Machines, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a machine for drilling a horizontal, orapproximately horizontal, hole in the earth.

The main object of my invention is to provide a practicable machine ofsimple construction for practising the invention described in my pendingapplication filed December 7, 1915 under Serial No. 65,472, whichrelates to a method for destroying military fortifications, trenches andother objects located some distance from a place where the machine isinstalled.

Another object is to provide a machine for the purpose described thatcan be moved easily from place to place and which is so constructed thatthe mechanism for rotating and feeding the drill stem operating memberis completely housed and protected from injury from objects that arethrown into the air when a shell explodes in proximity to the machine.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character described whichis so constructed that it can be adjusted easily to vary the angle atwhich the hole is bored and to change the direction that the holeextends from the machine.

And still another object is to provide a horizontal drilling machine ofnovel construction that comprises means for keeping the moving parts ofthe machine thoroughly lubricated. Other objects and desirable featuresof my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

In my pending application Serial No. 65,472, filed December 7, 1915,previously referred to, I have described a method for destroyingmilitary fortifications, trenches and other objects Which consists indrilling a horizontal, or approximately horizontal, hole in the earth,to a point in proximity to M the object which is to be destroyed,positioning an explosive at the inner end of the hole in proximity-tosaid object and thereafter firing the explosive. While the machineherein shown is particularly adapted for use in military operations ofthe character described in my pending application previously mentioned,it, of course, can be used for any purpose that necessitates theformation of a horizontah'or approximately horizontal, hole in theearth.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevational View of my improvedmachine, partly in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine,

partly in horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the gear box, partly broken away, to showthe gears inside of the box.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of a portion of the machine,illustrating the oscillating yoke or carrier in which the drill stemoperating member is mounted; and

-Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View of the drill stem operatingmember and the pinion 10 thereon.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of myinvention, A designates a drill stem to which a drill bit or rotaryboring drill B of any preferred construction is 'connected. C designatesa drill stem operating member that rotates the drill stem A and feeds itforwardly through the earth and D designates a pump of any suitable typefor forcing water through the drill stem A, which is hollow, the drillstem A being made up of short sections of pipe that are coupled togetherin the same manner as is now generally practised in well drillingoperations.

The drill stem operating member C forms a part of a machine thatcomprises means for feeding the member C forwardly or rearwardly atdifferent speeds and means for rotating the member C in clockwise andanti-clockwise directions at different speeds. In the embodiment of myinvention herein illustrated the machine just mentioned is provided witha housing that consists of a base portion 1 and a top portion 2 which ispreferably adjustably mounted on the base portion 1. The machine alsocomprises a gear box E that is provided with two shafts 3 and 4 thatdrive gears which i1npart rotary movement to the drill stem operatingmember C and also feed ber forwardly and backwardly. Any suitable meansmay be employed for driving the gears in the gear box E, the means.

herein shown for this purposeconsisting of said memrearwardly, orreverse, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited toa machine equipped with a gear box of any particular number of speeds orof any particular construction. The gear box E is provided withmanually-operable levers 3 and 4 for controlling the speeds of theshafts 3 and 4 and the direction of rotation of said shafts. The shafts3 and 4 are journaled in hearings in the base portion 1 of the housingof the machine, as shown i-n broken lines in Fig. 3, and said shafts areprovlded at their inner ends with beveled pinions 3 and 4 respectively,that mesh with beveled gears 5 and 6,'respectively, that are arrangedinside of the base portion 1 of the casing, as shown in Fig. 1. The gear6 is rigidly connected to a vertically-disposed shaft 7 which isprovided at its upper end with a beveled gear 6 and the gear 5 isrigidly connected to the lower end of a sleeve 7 that surrounds theshaft 7 and which is provided at its upper end with a beveled gear 5,said shaft and sleeve being journa'led in suitable bearings carried bythe base portion 1 of the housing which is preferably made oil tight sothat it will act as a holder or reservoir for lubricating oil, as shownin Fig. 1. The gear 5 meshes with a beveled gear 8 carried by ahorizontally-disposed shaft 8 that isjournaled in a bearing in one Sideof the top portion 2 of the housing, and the gear 6* mesheswith abeveled gear 9 carried by a horizontallydisposed shaft 9 that isjournaled in a bearing in the other side of the top portion 2 of thehousing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The gear 8 meshes with a beveledpinion 10 that is splined to the drill stem operating member C and thegear 9 meshes with a beveled pinion ll carried by ahorizontallydisposed, rotatable sleeve 12 which is pro-- vided withinternal screw threads that mesh with external screw-threads 13 on thedrill stem operating member C. The internally screw-threaded sleeve 12is mounted in such a manner that it cannot move longitudinally of thedrill stem operating member C, and consequently, when said sleeverevolves the cooperating screw threads on same and on the rear endportion of the drill stem operating member C will cause said member C tobe fed forwa rdly or rearwardly, depending upon the direction ofrotation of thesleeve 12. The pinion 10 is provided with splines or keysthat fit in longitudinally-disposed key-ways 14 formed in the drill stemoperating member C, and consequently, whenever the pinion 10 re-'volves',,the member C will revolve with it.

When the sleeve 12 and pinion 10 are in operation, the drill stem A willnot only be rotated, but it will also be moved longitudinally. Suitableend thrust bearings are preferably provided for the feeding sleeve 12and for the driving pinion 10, and a tubular-shaped spacing device isloosely mounted on the drill stem operating member C between the sleeve12 and the pinion 10, so as to prevent them from moving longitudinallyof the member O away from the end thrust bearings previously mentioned.The top portion 2 of the housing is so constructed that the drill stemoperating member C can be tilted vertically, so as to vary the angle ofthe hole that is to be formed in the earth.

The drill stem operating member C is rotatably mounted in a carrier 15which preferably consists of a yoke that is oscillatingly mounted onhorizontally-disposed trunnions 16 that project laterally from the sidesoi the top portion 2 of the housing, as shown in Fig. 2, said trunnionsalso serving as supports for the bearings in which the shafts 8 and 9are journaled. If desired, removable caps 17 can be mounted on the yoke15, so as to cover the openings in same through which the trunnions 16project and also to house the ends of the horizontal shafts mounted insaid trunnions. The yoke 15 is preferably split or formed in two halvesand the two parts of same are clamped together by sleeves 18 that arescrewed onto semi-circular-shaped extensions on the two halves of theyoke that embrace bushings or other suitable bearings which surround thedrill stem operating member C. The front and rear walls of the topportion 2 of the housing are provided with vertically-disposed,elongated slOts 19 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to permit the drillstem operating member to be tilted or oscillated vertically, and meansare employed for locking the yoke 15 in adjusted position, after themember C has been arranged at the desired angle, the means herein shownfor locking the yoke 15 in adjusted position consisting of bolts 20 inthe side walls of the top portion 2 of the housing that project throughelongated slots 21 in the yoke 15, as shown in Fig. 5.

In order that the machine may be used for drilling holes that radiatefrom the machine, I have constructed the machine in such a manner thatthe drill stem operating member C can be swung horizontally, withoutchanging the position of the base portion 1 of the housing. In theembodiment of my invention herein illustrated this is accomplished bymounting the top portion 2 of the housing on the base portion 1 in sucha way that it can be turned with relation to same, the base portion 1thus acting as a The lubricating oil in the base portion 1 is conveyedupwardly into an oil receptacle 24 carried by the plate of said baseportion by means of a spiral groove 25 in the vertical shaft 7, said oilholder 24 being large enough so that the gears 8 and 9 will dip into theoil in same, and thus keep the pinions 10 and 11 thoroughly lubricated,the gears5 and 6 in the base portion 1 being kept thoroughly lubricatedby the oil in said base portion and the pinions 5 and 6 being keptthoroughly lubricated by the oil in the oil holder 24. The surplus oilthat drains off the gears and pinions in the top portion 2 of thehousing is conducted back into the oil reservoir in the base portion 1by means of one or more ducts 26 formed in the top plate 27 of the baseportion 1, as shown in Fig. 1. The base portion 1 is provided with aclean-out opening that is normally closed by a cap 28 and a drainopening is formed in the bottom of the oil reservoir in the base portion1, so as to permit said reservoir to be drained, said opening beingnormally closed by a plug 29. A.

clutch H is arranged in the drill stem operating member C, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, so as to permit the drill stem to be fed forwardly intothe hole or pulled out of the hole when the drill is idle or notrotating, said clutch H being of any preferred construction. The waterpump E may be driven by any suitable means (not shown) and a flexibledischarge pipe 30 leads from said pump to a swivel 31 on the drill stemoperating member C, said swivel being so constructed that the drill stemoperating member C can rotate with relation to the portion of the swivel31 to which the flexible discharge pipe 30 from the pump is connected. Aremovable cap 32 in the top portion 2 of the housing normally closes anopening in same that permits the gearsand pinions inside of the topportion of the housing to be inspected or adjusted. In order tofacilitate the installation of the machine, I have provided the bottomflange 33 of the base portion 1 with two spirit levels 34, as shown inFig. 2, that enable the base portion to be set perfectly level. I

One desirable feature of an apparatus of the construction abovedescribed is that it can be moved easily from place to place,

owing to the fact that it is composed of a number of units, each ofwhich is light enough to enable it to be moved easily, for example, themotor F constitutes one unit, the gear box E another unit, the baseportion 1 of the housing another unit and the top portion 2 of thehousing still another unit. The top portion 2 of the housing and thecarrier 15 thereon in which the drill stem operating member C isjournaled can be removed easily and quickly from the base portion 1, bysimply taking off the clamping ring 22 and raising said top portion 2upwardly far enough to disengage the gears 8 and 9 thereon from theircooperating pinions 5 and 6 which pinions are carried by the baseportion 1 of the housing. The drill'stem operating member C can bearranged in a perfectly horizontal position or in an inclined positionby simply loosening the clamping bolts 20 and tilting the yoke 15upwardly or downwardly, said yoke being preferably provided with anindicator 35 that cooperates with a scale 36 on the side wall of the topportion 2 of the housing, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to facilitate theproper adjustment of the drill stem operating member C. Said member Ccan also be moved horizontally by releasing the clamping bolts 23 andturning the top portion 2 of the housing on the base portion 1, saidbase portion being provided with an indicator 37, as shown in Fig. 3,that cooperates with a scale on the top portion 2 of the housing tofacilitate the proper adjustment of the drill stem operating member C ina horizontal direction.

When the motor F is in operation and the gears in the gear box E areconnected up with the drive shaft of the motor, the shafts 3 and 4 willrevolve, and thus rotate the gears 5 and 6 on the vertical shaft 7 andthe sleeve 7 in the base portion 1 of the housing of the machine. Thevarious gears and pinions that are interposed between the gears 5 and 6and the drive pinion 10 and the feed pinion 11 cause the drill stem A torevolve and to be fed forwardly a distance equal to the length of theexternally screw-threaded portion 13 on the drill stem operating memberC, assuming, of course, that the forward speed gears of the gear box areoperative. After the member C reaches the end of its forward stroke thedrill stem A is disconnected from the member C and said member C isthereafter fed rearwardly, or in the opposite direction, by throwing thereverse gears in the gear box E into operation. Another section of drillstem is then connected to the member C and to the outer end of theportion of the stem that remains in the hole and the forward drive gearsin the gear box are thrown into operation so as to cause the drill stemto be fed forwardly a distance equal to the length of the section thatWas added to the drill stem, it, of course, being understood that thebit or boring tool B on the end of the drill stem revolves at a highspeed when the drill stem is being fed forwardly. When the drill is inoperation the pump D forces water through the drill stem so as to flushout the hole and remove the material that the drill disintegrates, andafter the hole has been formed said pump can be used to force anexplosive carrier through the drill stem, so as to position theexplosive in proximity to the object that is to be destroyed, asdescribed in my pending application pref. viously referred to. Therotary speed and the rate of feed of the drill stem can be controlledaccurately by shifting the gears in the gear box, and if it is desiredto have the boring drill B remain idle when the drill is being Withdrawnfrom the hole, or being introduced into the hole, this can beaccomplished by manipulating the 'clutch H in the drill stem operatingmember C. The machine can be installed or disassembled easily, and whenit is in use the moving parts of same, such, for example, as the variousfeeding and driving pinions and gears are protected by a strong metallichousing that prevents them from being injured by flying earth andobjects that are thrown into the air when shells explode in proximity tothe machine.

As previously stated, the machine herein illustrated is particularlyadapted for use in military operations of the character previouslyreferred to on account of its compactness, simplicity of constructionand the ease with which it can be moved from place to place. I do notWish it to be understood, however, that the machine is limited to use inmilitary operations, as it can be used in any earth drilling operationrequiring the formation of a horizontal, or approximately horizontal,hole in the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is:

1. A horizontal drilling machine, comprising a closed housing thatcomprises a base portion and a removable cover resting on same andadapted to be turned about a vertical axis, an approximatelyhorizontallydisposed drill stem operating member that passes throughopenings in the cover of said housing, and a rockable carrier for saidmember journaled on the cov er of horlzontally-disposed trunnions onsaid housing.

2. A horizontal drilling machine, comprising a housing provided with areservoir for holding lubricating oil and havlng a removable top portionthat protects the elements arranged inside of the housing, asubstantially horizontally-disposed dr1ll stem operating member, meanscarried by said housing for supporting said member, coopcrating gearsand pinions in said housing for rotating said member and for feeding itlongitudinally, some of said elements being immersed in the oil in saidreservoir, and v means for conducting oil to the remaining 79 elementsthat are arranged above the oil in said reservoir.

3. A horizontal drilling machine provided with a housing that comprisesa stationary base portion and a removable top portion that constitutes acover for said base portion and protects the elements arranged inside ofsame, a substantially horizontally-disposed drill stem operating member,means mounted on the top portion of the housing for carrying saidmember, and mechanism for rotating said drill stem operating member andfor feeding it longitudinally comprising cooperating elements in thebase portion and in the top portion of the housing that loosely engageeach other and which are mounted so that the top portion of the housingand the parts carried by same can be removed as a unit from the baseportion of the housing Without disturbing the elements arranged insideof said base portion.

4. A horizontal drilling machine provided with a housing that comprisesa stationary base portion and a top portion that cooperates with saidbase portion to protect the elements arranged inside of the housing, asubstantially horizontally-disposed drill. stem operating member, arockable carrier arranged on the top portion of said housing forsupporting said member, driving gears in the base portion of the housingthat revolve about a vertical axis, one of which is used to feed thedrill stem-operating mem; ber and the other to rotate said member,cooperating gears on the top portion of the housing that revolve about ahorizontal axis, and pinions on said drill stem operating member thatmesh with said last mentioned ears and which rotate said member and feedit longitudinally when said gears are in operation.

5. A horizontal drilling machine, comprising a housing that is providedwith a stationary-base portion and a top portion, 115 a substantiallyhorizontally-disposed drill stem operating member, a yoke-shaped car- 1rier on the top portion of said housing for supporting said member, avertically-dis posed shaft in the base portion of said hous- 1 ingprovided with a gear, a sleeve surrounding said shaft and provided witha gear, one of said gears being used to feed said drill stem operatingmember'and the other to rotate said member, and means carried by the 125top portion of the housing and by said drill stem operating member thatcoiiperates with said gears to feed said member longitudinally and toimpart rotary movement to same.

ing provided with a gear, a sleeve surrounding said shaft and providedwith a ear, one of said gears being used to feed the drill stemoperating member and the other to r0- tate said member, means carried bythe top portion of the housing and by said drill stem operating memberthat cooperates with said gears to feed said member longitudinally andto impart rotary movement to same, an oil holder that surrounds saidgears, and means for conducting lubricating oil from the base portion ofsaid housing into said oil holder.

7. A horizontal drilling machine provided with a closed housing thatcomprises a statlonary base portion, a removable top por-.

tion that can be turned with relation to said base portion, means forsecuring said top portion in adjusted position, a substantiallyhorizontally-disposed drill stem operating member that passes throughthe top portion of the housing and projects through elongated slotstherein, a carrier for said member arranged on the top portion of thehousing and oscillatingly mounted on same in such a manner that saiddrill stem operating member can be raised and lowered, means for holdingsaid carrier in adjusted position, means on the base portion of saidhousing for indicating when it is perfectly level, and indicators forshowing the horizontal adjustment of the top portlon of the housing andthe vertical adjustment of said carrier.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 22nd day of December, 1915.

HOWARD R. HUGHES.

Witnesses:

THos. M. APPLEGARTH, Dr. DANCHAR.

